Thursday, July 28, 2011

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today demanded that criminal cases be instituted against all those involved in the Karnataka iron ore mining scam and their properties attached pending a CBI inquiry and prosecution.

Addressing a media conference, Dr. JP said that mere resignations from the offices they are holding by those indicted by the Karnataka Lokayukta will not do. He hoped that Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa and his colleagues would tender their resignations without further dithering and warned the Opposition Congress and Janata Dal (U) against fishing in troubled waters.

Dr. JP said that the Government attach the properties of all the guilty, including those in the names of their family members and others.

“The era of an end to corruption has just dawned with powerful and moneyed politicians like A. Raja, Kanimozhi, and Suresh Kalmadi being jailed, and the Union Cabinet finally adopting a Bill to constitute an independent and powerful Lokpal. The people of the country are in no mood to condone corruption any longer.”

Dr. JP said the Lokpal Bill will remain incomplete if it does not envisage the constitution of powerful Lokayuktas in States and Ombudsmen in districts. The Lok Satta Party, which has already launched a signature campaign, will redouble its efforts and try to persuade the Parliamentary Standing Committee to incorporate the changes suggested by it.

Dr. JP pointed out that the mining mafia has grown to such an extent that it is dictating politics in both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Successive Governments in both States have allowed the mining mafia to loot the country for personal gains by allocating mines to the chosen ones on a first-come, first-served basis.

Dr. JP said that the Mines and Mineral Development Law being considered by the Union Government should provide for allocation of mines on competitive bidding. The Union Government should also enact a law to tax windfall profits.

Lok Satta Party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma and General Secretary Katari Srinivasa Rao took part in the media meet.